SEA TURTLE SEASON OPENS IN FLORIDA

We live in a wild and natural adventure land, alive with creatures large and small, in the water and in the air. It’s why people from all over the world visit us here in Titusville, Florida; our nature is easy to access, abundantly rich, providing rewarding experiences you’ll remember for a lifetime.

One of nature’s creatures that attracts great attention around here is the sea turtle, a wonder in the water and a lumbering giant on land, with fascinating nesting habits that bring a mama turtle very often right back to the same nesting grounds from a year ago or 5 years ago. Over and over again a mama sea turtle returns to the same beach landing zone–often within a ‘block’ or so of where she nested before.

In this part of Florida, we have some of the best sea turtle nesting in the country–and in fact, in the world. We have five kinds of sea turtles that come here. We are known for our populations of Loggerheads and Greens, but we also see a nice number of big Leatherbacks, and the occasional Hawksbill or Kemp’s Ridley.
And March 15 signifies the official start of Sea Turtle Nesting Season on Florida’s Space Coast.

Scientists from the University of Central Florida study our sea turtles all year long, whether in their natural seaside environment, juveniles in the Indian River Lagoon, or recovering from injury in the Sea Turtle Healing Facility at the Brevard Zoo. The biggest of the sea turtles in our region, a leatherback is shown here.

What you might want to know.

2017 SEA TURTLE NESTING (9-21-2017)  Canaveral National Seashore

Every type of turtle creates a unique style of track in the sand. Here’s how you can recognize which is which:

How to live with Sea Turtles (Sea Turtle Courtesy)
Sea turtles have been around a long time, long before electric lights. So they can easily mistake a street light for the moon and head for the street instead of the sea. In Brevard County, Florida (Florida’s Space Coast). the law during turtle season says that all indoor and outdoor lights visible from the beach must be shielded, repositioned, replaced or turned off from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Bright beach lights, flashlights, flash cameras, video recorders and other types of artificial lighting aren’t allowed either. Also, by law, no one can disturb a nest or hatchlings.

Canaveral Port Authority has a Light Management Plan in place and the lights at Terminal One are a great example of how a turtle friendly light can also look great and be energy efficient.

Sea Turtle Walks

People visiting the Space Coast love to see the Sea Turtles in their natural environment, but it’s a good idea to have an expert along to make sure that nothing is done to frighten or hurt these amazing animals.

At Canaveral National Seashore, the National Park Service conducts turtle watch programs to view nesting sea turtles at both the southern and northern ends of the 25-mile long beach. Check out the calendar of events, under May and June for making turtle watch reservations. The calendar doesn’t go very far ahead, so you may need to look again as the dates get closer. And even if you can’t make it here for a sea turtle walk, Playalinda Beach is a great place to visit any time of the year.

Playalinda Beach at Eddy Creek boardwalk, photo credit: S. Anderson

The Sea Turtle Conservancy also gives guided sea turtle walks in May, June and July, and reservations can be made online starting May 1, 2018. Walks are conducted by both STC and the US Fish and Wildlife Service experts on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights in June and July. Space is limited to 20 people per night. Cost is $15 per person, paid in advance, to reserve a space. Taking a Sea Turtle walk gives you a chance (no guarantees, though) of seeing an actual nesting. This group is authorized by a Florida State Permit, so they will guide you safely and with respect for the turtles.

TOUR De TURTLE
If you plan a trip around the beginning of August you could attend the Tour de Turtles. Started in 2008, the Tour de Turtles (TdT) uses satellite telemetry to track the migration of sea turtles. On one morning in early August a crowd gathers to watch the latest participants (sea turtles) as they are released and make their way to the ocean. Created by Sea Turtle Conservancy, with help from sponsors and partners, this event follows the marathon migration of sea turtles, representing four different species, from their nesting beaches to their foraging grounds.

ABOUT THIS STORY:
Stories & Adventures wishes to thank Blair Witherington, Vince Lamb and Kate Mansfield for information on sea turtle nesting, sea turtle courtesy, sea turtle track identification, and the joys of sea turtle walks, and thanks to Don George for information on sea turtle lighting management.

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